All throughout the series, dragons are constantly telling Julius to “be a dragon” or “grow some fangs.” These comments are very similar to the reader questions I got about Julius “growing a pair,” and my ultimate reply to both is the same: never. Julius will never act like that. Not because he is weak or cowardly or effeminate (and hoo boy, that’s a whole other angry-typing post about how acting nice=weak=female=bad), but because ruthlessly stomping on your enemies and pushing others out of the way to get ahead—all aspects that are held up as positive traits by dragon culture and in certain areas of our real world that I’m sure we can all name–is a fundamentally bad way of doing things that drags us all down as a species.

That’s the point. That’s the underlying truth of the whole series.

The book also has several very strong and well-developed female characters (both protagonists & antagonists)!

The world in which the main character finds herself after being spirited away from earth has never known sexism–no division of labor, no stereotypical gender-based roles, etc. Plus, both men and women can carry babies to term. Need I say more?

Drawing inspiration from Beauty and the Beast, the beast in Uprooted is a powerful magician, the heroine a super-powerful witch in her own right, and they are not only love interests, but equals in many ways! Agnieszka is a fantastically complex character who submits to no one and does her share of traditionally male assigned fairy-tale rescuing. Add in a strong sisterly friendship that carries through the narrative, an awesome female sword-forging POC, physicality that is consensual (and the stopping of it when it isn’t), and a villain who is magical, female, and entirely creepy, yet also a complicated character and you’ll get the feminist fantasy I didn’t know I was looking for!

The Gantean offers a whole new scope for a “strong female lead,” forging a new path for a heroine rather than a hero. Narrated in the first person, The Gantean shows us the inside of a heroine’s mind as she negotiates a woman’s difficulties in a complex world. A celebration of the mystic feminine!

[The publisher provided me with an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.]

I LOVED this book- flawless! Sophie Hansa is the perfect example of how a you can have a strong female character who doesn’t literally kick ass. She’s a complex, believable character who develops and grows though the story to be able to face her fears. I love her unique background as a marine videographer and how she uses her education, curiosity, and quick thinking to solves the puzzles the plot presents.

The cast of characters includes several well-developed and believable female and male characters, and definitely passes the Bechdel test hands-down. It also has a diverse cast with POC main characters and tackles issues like homophobia.

The worldbuilding was also phenomenal, very unique. I loved the city made of a fleet of ships, and Sophie’s questions about the logistics of such a community made it very believable. The magic system is great, too, with spells relying on specific natural materials, written inscriptions (or “scrips”), and true names.

Also, love the gorgeous cover!

I’ll definitely be looking up the author’s other books, and I eagerly await the next book in the series.

I love the strong-willed main character in this book. Hazel has doubts and sometimes struggles with doing the right thing, but in the end she faces her fears to help others. There’s a bit of romance, but I found it realistic and not too cheesy, and it doesn’t overshadow the main plot at all. It’s an easy read- fast-paced & full of action. I do wish the other characters were developed a bit (like Tavi!) but maybe they will be in later books in the series.

The protagonist, Alexa Costa, and her guardian, Ivy are confident and clever, as well as skilled in swordplay and shooting. A minor character, Sophie, is an excellent markswoman as well as a scholar. The antagonist, Queen Jada, is also skilled in weaponry and is incredibly cunning. The second protagonist, Caleb Whitman, greatly respects women and loves Alexa for her wild spirit. Several of the fictional countries in the story are named for women, including Netira, Minako, and Andina.

Katerina Svetlana, the daughter of a woodcarver, has inherited her father’s skills and a little magic. She can make carvings that reveal people’s secrets. Alone in a harsh medieval poverty, Kat makes a trade with a stranger and must recover her losses. The main character, though a young girl, never uses sex, or feminine wiles to achieve her goals. She has skills usually restricted to men and loses her beauty during a plot event. Even without looks, Kat overcomes using problem solving, dedication, resilience and a strong belief system. Entertaining and supportive of women/girls who have more to offer than just the female body.

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